If you have been contemplating doing this course but found the date of the first module did not suit you then you are in luck as we are changing the date of Module1 Philosophy and Design to March 14th. There are spaces still available to attend the certificate

Check out the poster for our event in Hamilton Gardens Festival. We have a new addition to the day. Along with the workshops we will have Environmental Stories for Children. First acted out story will be at 11am. then on the hour until 3pm. Come along to the Sustainable Backyard to be cool and relaxed while the children are being entertained.Cultivating Art

Run over 12 weekends throughout 2015.
Each one-day module will be from 9am to 5pm.

Course fee: A one-off payment to cover the complete course $1400 GST inc OR
4 instalments – $500 in February, and $300 in May, July & September

Casuals are welcome to attend modules of their choice at $135 per module.

The modules will be held at a variety of sites throughout the Waikato, enabling the participants to view different levels and styles of permaculture in practice.

Note: Participants who want to complete the certificate must do the first and last modules.
To complete the certificate one can attend modules that can be cross credited in other regions, with an approved provider. The certificate can be completed over 2 years. It is also possible to partake in chosen modules as a part time participant without receiving the certificate.

1. Philosophy and Design
Hamilton February 28th
Introduction to the ethics & principles of permaculture. Explore realistic priorities for reducing your ecological footprint and designing abundance into your life.
Design advice is provided to assist you to develop a concept plan for your site, or project that you chose to work at.

4. Landscape and Site Assessment
Raglan May 16th
Observation and interactions with nature and the landscape. Natures reoccurring patterns.
Techniques for observation; measuring and recording landforms; sectors and aspects.
Gathering information of natural conditions, cultural features and requirements.
Water sheds; water catchments and dams Landscape management.

7. Small animals and orchard Zone 2
Raglan August 8th
Ecology of plants and animals.
Selecting trees/vines/berries/crops etc. for climate and site. Layout for needs in relation to facilities, guilds & diversity.
Planting and propagation; management for productivity and plant health. Integration with small animals (bees, poultry, pigs).
Management and care of small animals.
Water requirements, swales & irrigation.

12. Design Project Presentations
Hamilton December 12th
The design project can be completed individually or in groups.
It should be completed in a minimum of 20 hours per person per project.
Tutors will be available for feedback throughout the process.
Projects can be on subject matter the student is interested in, so long it demonstrates the application of sustainable design principles introduced in the first module. This may take the form of a landscape design for an individual dwelling, a retrofit of a house, working with a community group, setting up a local alternative economic model, etc.
It is intended that projects be undertaken in parallel to the course so that designs are built on by progressive learning throughout the course.
Submit a project brief at module 6
At the end of the course, students will be required to do a 15 minute presentation of their project to the tutors and colleagues.
Presentations should demonstrate how the design was conceived (design process), the project (final design) and a brief outline on implementation and/ or management.
Hamilton Permaculture
Waikato Environment Centre
242 Peachgrove Road, Hamilton
Ph. 834 2249 021 139 0935
Email: permaham@actrix.co.nzhttp://www.hamiltonpermaculture.org.nz

By Alice Bulmer
The Hamilton Permaculture Trust has recently called it a day, after more than a decade. At the AGM in November the decision was made to wind up the Trust and allow permaculture to enter a new era in Hamilton. Permaculture is very much alive and well in the Waikato!
At the Waikato Environment Centre Christmas event, the Trust was given a special award to celebrate its achievements. I was the one who made the nomination, and this is what I wrote:

The Hamilton Permaculture Trust has had a huge impact on my life and on the lives of many others. I’d love to see this fantastic, unique organization honoured this year, since it has recently called it a day. This is the LAST CHANCE!

1. For being such a great role model in succession and life cycles of community groups and organizations, by deliberately bringing itself to an end when its purpose was achieved, and recycling the components. This is completely in keeping with the principles of permaculture. No organism or organization can live forever!
2. For more than a decade of lively inspiration and education around permaculture in the Waikato
3. For bringing permaculture to Hamilton
4. For founding and nurturing the Sustainable Backyard, which continues to inspire and educate countless people
5. For organising hugely popular environmental events for many years, as part of the Hamilton Gardens Festival
6. For showing that permaculture can work effectively alongside local government, public gardens and other mainstream organisational structures
7. For teaching organic gardening skills to large numbers of people over many years
8. For inspiring the foundation of Hamilton Organic Gardeners
9. For directly and indirectly inspiring numerous community gardens in the Waikato
10. For founding an excellent, world standard modular permaculture training programme (which will be continuing)
11. (Last but not least): For founding the fantastic Waikato Time Bank
And for many other great initiatives that I haven’t mentioned here.

This website will continue as a source for permaculture activities in the Waikato

Ooooby (out of our own backyards) re-connects people to their local food sources and offers buyers and growers a supplement to the weekend markets. Waikato residents who want fresh, ethical, wholesome food delivered to their home or business, visit http://www.ooooby.org or call 0800 OOOOBY. The recent video on the About page, will be of particular interest to growers looking to supply Ooooby.

You are invited to a celebration in Permaculture and Star Wars. An unlikely combination you may think but both have celebrations on that day so the University community gardeners decided to combine the 2.
Check the link for more information.
If you cannot make the Seed swap then try to reinforce the value of permaculture with some permaculture practices on the day.
Perhaps you have been wanting to start a new compost or wormfarm.
Apply compost to the garden
Mulch your winter garden
Give seeds away to friends or neighbours
Organise a permablitz
Harvest and store crops for the winter
Or anything else you can think of.
Also a reminder the National Permaculture hui is to be held in Wellington on April 25th to 27th. Here is the link to register for it http://www.permaculturehui2014.org.nz
Happy permaculturing and may the fourth be with you,

Email Subscription

Vote!

What can I do today?

Make a difference . . . So go forth and set up a worm-farm outside your backdoor. Compost your kitchen scraps. Create a small vegetable garden to supplement your needs and share with others. Reassess your energy consumption and find ways to make a difference. The Hamilton Permaculture Trust is here to support you.

Hamilton Permaculture Trust

Healthy soil • Healthy people • Healthy Planet

All photos copyright. Please let us know if you'd like to use our photos!